In early January 2020, a woman in my parish voiced her prayer: May our vision this year be 20/20. I’ve pondered that often. Who knew at that point that COVID-19 would make this an exceptional year! Budgets, industries, priorities, projects that seemed clear in January were thrown into disarray by a microscopic virus and our human response to it. And the spate of killings of black brothers and sisters became another flash point for our shared humanity. Much of life now seems chaotic, murky. It is difficult to anticipate what the next months will bring, provoking anxiety.
A few things are clear:
- We are all vulnerable to the virus and to the economy; we are all connected, we are responsible for each other.
- Black lives matter to more and more people, offering opportunity for changes of hearts and minds and behaviors.
How will my heart be enlarged, transformed, by the challenges of uncertainty? For me, the best way to resist funk is to try everyday to connect my heart with the issues and with the God who sees the big picture, the God of Love. And then to reach out in some concrete way to be a conduit of Love.
Mary Krolikowski
Visit us at www.catholicsforpeaceandjustice.org and the Catholics for Peace and Justice Facebook page
Visit Collars on the Corner on Facebook
Looking for more social justice resources?
Visit the Social Justice Resource Center
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EVENTS | EDUCATION
Recurring Events
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GENERAL
 Pope Francis Quote
“The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty.”
Pope Francis
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Sign up here - www.tinyurl.com/healracism - to receive a monthly prayer guide with the intention of reconciling and healing racism in our city. Monthly gatherings have been postponed due to Covid, but may resume in the fall. Brought to you by:Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, Three Holy Women, Our Lady of Divine Providence, Old St. Mary's, Saints Peter and Paul Human Concerns/Social Justice Commissions, Franciscan Peacemakers. For more information, please contact: Shelly Roder, shelly.roder@franciscanpeacemakers.com
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ACTIONS AND ISSUES
Joint Statement: World Says No to War on Yemen
Catholics for Peace and Justice as a collaborator with Pax Christi USA has signed a statement opposing the continuing war in Yemen, fueled by US arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Read more.
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The Affordable Care Act
In December, the Trump Administration and 18 state attorneys general will argue before the Supreme Court to strike down the entire ACA, which has been effective in narrowing health disparities for people of color. See entire text at: cbpp.org/research/health/medicaid-expansion-has-helped-narrow-racial-disparities-in-health-coverage-and
What can we do? Contact our newly elected state and federal officials. Ask them to support the ACA. Ask state officials to bring the Medicaid expansion to Wisconsin at last.
 Election Reflections & Virtual Prayer Room
LCWR's " A More Perfect Union: 2020 Election Reflections," includes weekly reflections and a suggested action that people form contemplative dialogue opportunities on the questions provided with people who may represent a diversity of thought and opinion. This week's reflection, "A Call to Contemplative Action" is available here. Relatedly, don't forget to make use of the SSND Election Season Virtual Prayer Room for Peace. Feel free to visit this space as often as you like and invite others to do the same - all are welcome!
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 Catholic Coalition for Migrants and Refugees
CCMR Update
To be part of CCMR, sign up here. Visit the CCMR facebook page here.
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EVENTS AND EDUCATION
Faith and Racial Equity - Meetings will be virtual on Sundays, 3:00-5:30 PM, beginning November 8.
How does your faith inform your belief in racial equity? St. Catherine and St. Sebastian parishes are offering a program called Faith and Racial Equity to help understand and recognize racial disparities and take a deeper dive into specific issues related to power and privilege. This eight-session program awakens participants to the economic systems, public policies, cultural norms, and hidden biases that empower some and oppress others. Faith and Racial Equity is open to all interested persons, not only parishioners. Contact Mary Krolikowski at 414-873-3576 or mkemk4418@gmail.com
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Siena Retreat Center - Explore the programs
- Thursday, Nov. 5, 6:30-8:30pm Encompassing Culture: Reclaiming Indigenous Space through StoryMap, Virtual via Zoom.
No matter where we are in North America, we are on land previously occupied by indigenous peoples. This presentation explores a unique learning approach to raising the visibility of Native people and helping connect all of us to the past. Patty Loew (Ojibwe) will share how she and her students created a virtual tour of Indigenous people, places, and historical events. Dr. Loew is Co-Director of the Center for Native American and Indigenous Research at Northwestern University. Freewill offering.
- Sunday, Nov. 8, 9:00am-5:00pm, Resting in the Dark…Emerging in the Light Grief retreat, Grief team, Virtual via Zoom.
- Friday, Nov. 20, 6:00 pm– Sunday, Nov. 22 12:30pm Sun, A Weekend for Veterans.
- Saturday, Nov. 21, 9:30am-noon, Women for Women.
- Wednesday, Dec. 2, offered twice 10:00-11:15am and 6:30-7:45pm, Advent Reflections: God of the Unexpected, Virtual via Zoom.
- Sunday, Dec. 6, 10:30am-3:00pm, Make Your Own Christmas Card, Joseph Marco and Pat Shutts.
- All November Programs
For a complete description of these and other programs and retreats, visit www.SienaRetreatCenter.org or call 262-898-2590. Partial scholarships are available for all programs!
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Peace Action Wisconsin
- End the Wars Coalition meetings: 3rd Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m. Peace Action Center, 1001 E Keefe Ave, Milwaukee 414-269-9525, info@peaceactionwi.org
- Stand for Peace: Every Saturday, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Learn more here. Updates on Facebook.
Peace Action of Wisconsin has restarted the Stand for Peace with directives advised by the Milwaukee Health Commissioner. Stand for Peace participants will obey social distancing guidelines, and we will wear masks. Shared signs and flags will be sanitized after each Stand.
- October 31: 76th/Layton
- November 7: Capitol/Oakland
- November 14: Howell/Howard
- November 21: Sherman/North
- November 28: Port Washington/Silver Spring
A Jewish View of Contemporary Ideas of the Trinity - Nov 2
Can Jews learn anything from the theology of the Trinity? Find out at The Catholic Theological Union lecture via Zoom on November 2 at 7:00 p.m. CST. We will look with Jewish eyes at the 20th century Trinitarian thought of Karl Rahner and Jurgen Moltman, asking what would be a Jewish approach to their concerns. To learn more or to register for this free lecture click here. [ back to top]
Addressing Demand in Human Trafficking: The Connection Between Porn and Trafficking - Nov 12
Thursday, Nov. 12, 6:30 p.m. Free event via Zoom with speaker John Pulley. Through sharing his own personal story, John will enlighten our understanding of how he sees pornography perpetuating human trafficking in our country. He will also share with us practical strategies for addressing this issue in our circles of influence. sponsored by the Faith Coalition Against Sex Trafficking. Learn more and register at www.fcastwaukcty.org
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What We Have Learned from the 2020 Presidential Election & How Do We Move Forward - Nov 14
This program is "free and open to the public" and is sponsored by the United Nations Association of Greater Milwaukee. Featuring a presentation by John Nichols. November 14, 10-11:30 a.m. Press Release. Learn more and register here. After registering, you will receive an email with a hotlink & information about how to join the meeting. If you have trouble registering, contact Martha Collins at 414.435.6482 or martha4progress@gmail.com. For more information about the program, contact Jim Carpenter at 414.347.0353 or jcmilwgr@yahoo.com.
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Call to Protest Internationally - Jan 25
We call on people around the world to protest the war on January 25, 2021, just days after the U.S. presidential inauguration and the day before Saudi Arabia’s 'Davos in the Desert’ Future Investment Initiative. We ask individuals and organizations everywhere to call for protests -- with masks and other safety precautions -- in their towns and cities on that day and make clear that the WORLD SAYS NO TO WAR ON YEMEN. Read more.
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PRAY
What the Pandemic Is Saying to the World
Humanity, you are all One.
You are one beloved community,
and you are one global sickness.
You are all contagious—and always have been,
unconsciously infecting and yet able to also bless one another.
There are no higher and lower in this world.
There is no smart or stupid; no totally right or totally wrong.
The only meaningful division is between those who serve
and those who allow themselves to be served.
All the rest is temporary posturing.
Many to whom you look for power and leadership
have shown themselves to have empty hands, minds, and hearts.
We are bereft of all satisfying explanations,
all ledgers of deserving and undeserving.
There are no perfect answers or absolute heroes.
We must all wear a mask to protect the other from “me.”
Don’t play the victim!
Victimhood is always a waste of time—God’s time and yours.
Instead, try to learn the important lessons.
We are all in the same elementary school now.
Here, we must learn to stand in two different places
and to change places often.
The served must also be the servants,
and the servants must also be the served.
Just stay in the eternal circle of the Suffering and the Servants.
Christians call it the Body of Christ.
We are not the first or the last generation
that gets to suffer and to serve on this earth.
Richard Rohr, October 20, 2020
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“Ignorance and prejudice are the handmaidens of propaganda. Our mission, therefore, is to confront ignorance with knowledge, bigotry with tolerance, and isolation with the outstretched hand of generosity.” - Kofi Annan
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